These Black Madonna Palls are part of a project I have been working on bit by bit for a while. It started when my mother asked me to do something with her new Embroidery machine. It was all computer automated, which was not so great for her, but perfect for me. So I set out on my mission to make some customised vestments. I just had to save every penny I could to get my machine. This post is about just a little bit of that project.
The creative part of the project is designing the patterns. I create the patterns on the computer with a program (with no sowing machine needed). You draw your shapes, pick your colours, stitch types and effects, and even the direction the stitches go in. It is kind of like drawing something in Photoshop, except because it is a mechanical process to “print” it out, you have to be aware of some pitfalls. Like picking a high stitch density will make a nice rich colour. However, it will pull the fabric more, causing things to misalign. I have been slowly learning those pitfalls through trial and error.
Anyway, here are some photos of it in progress on the machine. I like how it looks once the gold thread starts being done. Unfortunately, the gold thread is a pain to work with, as it is more fragile and breaks easier. So I end up having to rethread a few times. It is worth it, though.
Pressing Start to See the Result
I also recorded some of it in the video. The video has been sped up 8x.
The machine only can take one colour at a time, but it guides you through what colour when with its little display. It also tells you a lot of other information like time remaining and has a progress bar for the stitches.
Making the Paul
Turning the design into a pall for a chalice, I need a pocket to put a plastic or cardboard square into. So everything out of the hoop, tape another piece in place so it will not move, and a third to cover the gap. Put the original back in the frame, make sure it all lines up, and it is back on the machine to do a border.
Finished Black Madonna Palls
Then we have a final result. After that, we need to trim the edges and repeat.
Palls are just a nice-sized project for testing patterns while making something useful. There is a lot more where this is going.
